Donor Stories

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A photo of Craig Vejvoda, Virgil Moorehead, and Dan Phillips, who each gifted $50,000 to the Cal Poly Humboldt Wrestling Club, building upon the University's wrestling legacy.

Building a Strong Future for Wrestling Program

“Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.” This saying is known to everyone who’s hit the mat and wrestled at one point or time. For Virgil Moorehead (‘83, Education), Craig Vejvoda (‘80, Business Administration), and Dan Phillips (‘91, Business and Computer Information Systems), who were members of the Humboldt wrestling community, it’s true.

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CPH campus_annual giving

Cal Poly Humboldt Sees Strong Support from Donors

Over the last year, thousands of donors stepped up to support Cal Poly Humboldt students, giving $12.5 million to advance academic excellence, expand educational access, and foster innovative research and programs.

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Kenneth Sanchez has bequeathed a percentage of his estate to Cal Poly Humboldt’s Lowell Diller Wildlife Memorial Scholarship to one day help Wildlife students pay their tuition.

Legacy to Future Wildlife Students

Kenneth Sanchez (‘84, Wildlife) loves saving habitats. He has been helping protect and restore habitats in the United States for over 30 years, and now with a bequest pledge made to Cal Poly Humboldt’s Lowell Diller Wildlife Memorial Scholarship Endowment, he will one day be able to help other Humboldt Wildlife students who are just as passionate about habitat restoration.

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Andrea Tuttle, Ph.D., poses with Tuttle Fellowship recipients Sanjeev Kumar and Danial Nayeri.

Cal Poly Humboldt Scholarship Reception Unites Donors and Recipients

Many laughs, smiles, and gratitude filled the campus Great Hall during the Cal Poly Humboldt Scholarship Reception on May 4. The event gave student scholarship recipients a chance to meet and connect with donors who sponsored their scholarships and believed in them.

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A photo of Cal Poly Humboldt students holding up another student in the forest.

Inaugural Giving Day Raises $140K

Cal Poly Humboldt’s inaugural Giving Day was an astonishing success as the Humboldt community came together and raised $140,638 in one day! Among the day’s numerous highlights, donors contributed to

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Giving Day

It's Cal Poly Humboldt Giving Day!

The 24-hour campaign on Wednesday, April 5 will bring together students, alumni, parents, friends, and the campus community to raise funds for students and campus programs.

Alum Creates a New Mentorship Path for Students

Rick Gardner (‘65, Psychology) remembers the day he was accepted into Cal Poly Humboldt. “I opened the mailbox and saw the letter from Humboldt. When I opened it, I went running to my parents to show

Event Honors Humboldt Legacy Donors

Cal Poly Humboldt legacy donors gathered Thursday, March 2 at Baywood Golf & Country Club for the inaugural 1913 Legacy Society luncheon, a celebration of those who have designated Humboldt in

Leaving a Legacy of Environmental Education

For more than four decades, Robert Gearheart has been dedicated to understanding wetland systems and sharing his wisdom and passion with others. He’s reached hundreds of students over the years. 

Mary & Foster Keller Endowment Continues to Support Students

To ease the financial burden for Cal Poly Humboldt students and honor her parents, Jennifer Keller established the Mary & Foster Keller Endowment in 2012. The endowment created the University’s first-ever Presidential Scholarship and awards student recipients $4,000 annually for four years.

‘Boldly Rising,’ an Ambitious new Fundraising Campaign

Cal Poly Humboldt has publicly launched the most significant fundraising effort in its history, aiming to raise at least $50 million in support of students and campus programs. It’s called Boldly Rising: the Campaign for Cal Poly Humboldt.

Giving and Going Back to Humboldt

To Jacob Furgatch (‘82, Nursing), graduating from the Nursing program at Humboldt was about more than getting a bachelor’s degree. His Humboldt experience became the foundation for everything that came after – his wife, family, and a successful career.

First Endowed Professorship at Cal Poly Humboldt

Inspired by the Cal Poly Humboldt professors who played pivotal roles in his life, Dave Shaffer (‘67, Psychology, ‘68 M.A., Psychology) has made a generous gift that will support a Psychology faculty member. 

Lumberjack Arena Court Renaming Effort Underway

Coach Tom Wood built men’s basketball program into what it is today. To honor him and to support student-athletes, the Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation and a group of community volunteers are working to raise at least $350,000 to rename the court inside Lumberjack Arena ”Tom Wood Court.”

Scholarship Honors Couple Who Lived Their Values

To honor her parents’ commitment to environmental responsibility and to continue their tradition of giving to environmental causes, ” Sara Woodhull and her husband Craig Fuget have given $31,000 to establish the Joan G. and Joel Woodhull Memorial Scholarship fund.